This seminar will focus on Frans de Waal’s best-selling book, “Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are”? World-renowned biologist and primatologist, regarded as one of the world’s most influential thinkers, de Waal explores case studies of animal intelligence, including elephants who can identify and judge people based on their age, gender, and language; octopi who use coconut shells as tools; chimpanzees, parrots, dolphins, sheep and wasps. While his principal focus is on animal intelligence, de Waal raises many provocative questions about human intelligence along the way, providing a wide range of topics for members of the course to research and write about. The primary goal of the course is to sharpen critical thinking, develop a range of writing styles, and accelerate the ability to respond to new reading and writing situations. Fulfills the Writing Requirement for CAS, WH, EAS, NUR. Does not count toward the writing requirement for LPS.